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Fasting has been practiced for a lot of centuries already, primarily as a religious ritual or for spiritual cleansing. Today, people are now resorting to it for losing weight. The fasting weight loss method of shedding unwanted pounds is basically just fasting without the spiritual aspect to it. It is a bit similar to the juice diet because dieters may drink fruit juices if they have to. Read on for a brief explanation of how it works, its advantage over other diets, and possible health risks.

Just as the religious people trying to be on the path of spiritual enlightenment, fasting to achieve weight loss just entails totally avoiding all food. For the entire duration of the fast, you will be consuming only water or juice. The fast can be over and done with in just two days, while others do it for a total of nine days. Some people have even taken fasting to extreme levels and do it for up to 30 days.

The main advantage that fasting for weight loss has over other diet methods is that you can lose weight quickly without literally spending anything. It is cheap, effective, and quick. Compared to some fad diets where you have to buy supplements, eat only certain foods that you have to prepare in a certain way, and count your calorie intake meticulously, fasting is dieting without all the fuss. In general, it is safe for most healthy individuals when done for a day or two.

The usual effects of this diet are low energy levels, which means that you cannot do all regular daily tasks as usual. This side effect is expected already by those who plan to undergo this weight loss technique so people are not alarmed by it. However, there are lesser known effects on the body that may pose health risks or greater harm to one’s health. One of these is muscle breakdown. In the absence of food, blood sugar levels go down, resulting in the breaking down of protein in the muscles so that these will be turned into glucose for the body to use as energy. When muscle breakdown happens, not only the protein levels of the body are decreased but other important minerals such as calcium, sodium, and potassium are also flushed out.

Even if the fasting weight loss method looks attractive that you would consider trying it, it is still best to consult a doctor before starting the fast. In general, it is recommended that you do it for just two days, preferably over the weekend when you have not much to do.